VENTURA : Police Investigate Weekend Gunfire

Ventura police are investigating a weekend shooting spree in the Ventura Avenue area, an incident that residents call part of an ongoing spate of violence in the area.

Police say unknown assailants shot about 20 rounds into houses, shops and cars parked near Olive Street and Harrison Avenue early Saturday. No one was hurt, police said.

Concerned about the gunfire, city officials say they are trying to arrange a meeting between council members and Avenue residents in early May.

“We’ve got gunfire going on; nobody’s trying to deny that,” City Manager John Baker said.

In addition to the weekend gunfire, neighbors say the area has been plagued in recent months by similar incidents of shots being fired and muggings related to gang and drug activity at a nearby apartment complex.

“Something has to be done out here. This has gone too far,” said Len Evans, who lives on Harrison.

Mayor Tom Buford said the city has been working with the Avenue community on several issues long before the weekend incident. “The Avenue has received a fair amount of attention,” he said.

“But the biggest problem is the community is without demonstrable leadership” that city officials can approach when they want to get something done, he said.

Residents, however, say city and police officials did little about the problem until Monday, when fed-up residents began flooding the Police Department and City Hall with phone calls.

“It’s finally getting back to the city that they can’t ignore it anymore,” Evans said.